West Nile Hits Cathedral City Resident
The Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District confirmed a Cathedral City resident has contracted West Nile Virus.
This marks the first human case of West Nile since 2008, said Outreach Specialist Maria Kylis.
“The last confirmed WNV (West Nile Virus) human case in the Coachella Valley occurred in 2008,” she said
Transmitted by mosquito bites, Vector Control numbers show the virus turning up in 43 mosquito samples and 31 chickens in the Coachella Valley, this year.
In 2010, the District had 69 positive mosquito samples and 38 chickens by this point in the season.
Kylis said district staff will continue mosquito and West Nile surveillance, which includes killing any eggs that are found and keeping the public informed.
Late fall and winter month weather and other environmental conditions greatly reduce local mosquito populations and the risk of West Nile transmission in the Coachella Valley, she said.
Still, people can reduce their risk of mosquito-borne diseases by taking these precautions:
? Avoid outdoor activity at dusk and dawn.
? When outdoors, wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and other protective clothing.
? Apply insect repellent according to label instructions.
? Make sure that doors and windows have tight fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes.
? Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property that can support mosquito breeding.
? Report swimming pools and ornamental ponds that are not being maintained. Keep ornamental ponds and neglected pools free of excess vegetation.
? Contact the District for free mosquitofish to place in your ornamental pools, neglected pools or any other container with standing water that can potentially breed mosquitoes
? Contact the District if there is a significant mosquito problem where you live or work.
Contact the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District at 760-342-8287 or 1-888-343-9399
